Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, the second of two sons
of Nelle Wilson and John (Jack) Edward Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. His
Irish-American father was a Democrat, know for his outspoken opposition of
racial bigotry. The family settled in Dixon, Illinois when Ronald was 9 years
old. His mother taught him to read at an early age. He became known by the
nickname “Dutch”. In high school he professed an interest in three factors that
would dominate his life – sports, drama and politics. Working his way through
Eureka College, he earned a BA in economics and sociology in 1932. A 1937 screen
test won him a contract with Warner Brothers through which he would appear in
over 50 films before moving on to a television career. He became the host of the
popular television series “Death Valley Days” and was spokesman for the General
Electric Company. Reagan served six terms as president of the Screen Actors
Guild.

In 1940 Reagan married actress Jane Wyman. They had one daughter, Maureen
and adopted a son Michael in 1945. They were divorced in 1948. In 1952, he
married Nancy Davis who was also an actress. Ronald and Nancy had two children,
Patricia and Ronald.

A member of the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, he was
rejected for active duty because of poor eyesight and spent the war years
narrating training films. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain.

Reagan was originally a Democrat and an admirer of Franklin Roosevelt.
Throughout the 1950’s his policies and ideals moved toward conservatism and he
changed his registration to Republican in 1962. With support of businessmen and
conservative backers, Reagan ran for Governor of California in 1966. He easily
defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Edmund “Pat” Brown and served two terms.
During this time he became a national political figure. When he left the office
of Governor of California, the state budget showed a $550 million surplus.

Reagan made the decision to seek the Republican nomination for the
Presidency of the United States in 1980. Mentioned as a presidential contender
in every campaign since 1968, Republican rivals thought him too old to be a
force. With well-financed, loyal support, he swept through the primaries and
secured the Republican presidential nomination at the Convention. He chose
George Bush to be his running mate. With voters troubled by inflation and the
fact that Iran had been holding American hostages for the past year, the
Republicans were swept into office, not only the Presidency, but the Senate and
House providing a bipartisan conservative majority as well. Reagan won 489
electoral votes to 49 for incumbent President Jimmy Carter. On January 20, 1981,
Reagan took office. Sixty-nine days later on March 30th he survived an
assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley, Jr., recovering quickly and returned
to duty. His popularity soared. Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan was
able to obtain legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation,
increase employment, and strengthen the national defense. He set on a course of
cutting taxes and government expenditures and refused to deviate from it even
when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.

During his first term in office Reagan pursued a new direction to get the
government off the backs of the people and not spending more that it took in.
The Reagan economic policy, known as ‘Reaganomics” was doubtful when in 1982-83
a severe recession diminished its appeal. Public opinion indicated a growing
conviction that previous tax cuts had benefited the rich. 1982 saw the Nation’s
unemployment rate the highest in 40 years. Reagan instrumented an overhaul of
the income tax code, eliminating many deductions and exempted millions of people
with low incomes in 1986. He was able to get Congress to approve a program to
increase defense spending and budget tax cuts. The Nation began to enjoy its
longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.
This strong economic recovery was key to Reagan winning a landslide re-election
victory in 1984 against Democratic challengers Walter Mondale and Geraldine
Ferraro.

Reagan’s approach to foreign policy was to achieve “peace through
strength”. He increased defense spending by 35%. He sought to improve relations
with the Soviet Union. In March 1983 he announced his Strategic Defense
Initiative, which became know publicly as Star Wars. This was perceived by the
Soviets as a threat. Tense meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev
resulted in the negotiation of a treaty eliminating intermediate-range nuclear
missiles. Reagan also declared war on international terrorism. US Marines were
sent to Lebanon in late 1982 after heavy casualties suffered by the Marines in
the bombing in Beirut raised anxieties. When evidence was brought forward that
Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub,
Reagan sent American bombers to Libya. He likewise ordered naval escorts in the
Persian Gulf, maintaining the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war.
Adhering to principles from his early life pertaining to Communism, Reagan gave
also his support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia and
Africa. In late October 1983, troops were ordered to invade the Caribbean Island
of Grenada to overthrow the country’s anti-American dictatorship. The CIA worked
openly to overturn the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua.

The damaging Iran-Contra Affair became public in late 1986. Charges that
the Reagan administration had secretly sold arms to Iran and used profits from
the sale to aid an insurgency in Nicaragua engulfed Reagan in the worst
political scandal since Watergate. Congress prohibited aid to the contras from
1983 to 1986. Reagan’s determination to continue this struggle led members of
his administration, most notably the National Security Council staff, into a
variety of activities including the secret sale of arms to Iran and the
clandestine diversion of profits to the contras. Reagan claimed not to have
known of the diversion and a review board condemned his "management style" as
inept. Senate hearings began in 1987. Those indicted were the National Security
Council's John M. Poindexter and Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North. During North's
trial in 1989 a document released by the defense suggested that both Reagan and
Bush had been involved in an undercover scheme to secure outside aid for the
contras in exchange for military-economic support for Honduras. By 1990 six
former Reagan officials had been convicted in the affair. In eight hours of
videotaped testimony about the arms plot, the former president repeatedly swore,
"I don't recall."

President Reagan endured many health problems while in office. For eight
hours on July 13, 1985, while Reagan was undergoing intestinal surgery, he
formally transferred the power of his office to Vice-President Bush. It was the
first time anyone had been designated acting president of the United States.
Also, he had a cancerous growth removed during the operation. In 1987 Reagan
once again underwent minor surgeries for urinary tract blockage, intestinal
polyps, and a cancerous growth on his nose.

The national economy mirrored the contrast between the President’s upbeat
mood and his recurring ailments. Job expansion and steady economic growth
overcast worrisome trends. There were huge trade deficits and a 1985 budget
deficit of $211 billion. In November 1986, the Democrats took control of the
Senate by a wide margin. Reagan’s domestic policy agenda was depleted.

After a fumbling performance at the second summit conference with Soviet
leader Gorbachev in Iceland, October 1986, doubts were intensified concerning
the abilities of the now 75 year old President. Through his persistence in
promoting his “Star Wars” initiative, it appeared that an agreement to
reduce nuclear missiles would not occur. However, in December 1987, Reagan and
Gorbachev meeting in Washington, DC, solved some of the differences and signed
an agreement eliminating medium-range missiles in Europe. In late May 1988 in
Moscow, they met once again and signed ratification documents of a treaty on
intermediate and short-range missiles.

Prior to leaving office, Reagan created a 14th Cabinet department for
veterans' affairs. Also, as part of a major anti-drug legislation he created the
Cabinet-level post of "drug czar", Director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy. With Reagan’s popularity rating once again high, he helped
to secure the election of his Vice President, George Bush to the Presidency on
November 8, 1988.

The Reagan years saw the restoration of prosperity to the Nation. His goal
of ‘peace through strength’ seemed to within reach. At the end of his two terms
in office, Reagan was satisfied that his program to raise the spirits of the
American people and reduce their reliance on the Government was a success. He
was pleased that he had fulfilled his campaign pledge to restore “the great,
confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism.” He had overseen
the creation of budget and trade deficits as well as an historic truce in the
cold war with the Soviet Union. Reagan was called the Teflon President in that
neither the many political scandals regarding his subordinates nor the enormous
budget deficits remained related to him. He was considered to be the most
conservative nominee to win the office of President in the past fifty years.
Although active in political causes throughout his acting career, Reagan did not
seek public office until well into later life. He had not dedicated his life to
politics or any public service profession. Reagan is the oldest person ever
sworn into the office of President. His place in history, however, is yet
unclear. During his tenure, the United States was transformed from the world’s
leading creditor to the number one debtor when he left office

Reagan and his wife Nancy left Washington and retired to a California
estate purchased by friends. His past reputation as “the great communicator”
made him much in demand as a speaker. He had left Washington with an approval
rating the highest of any President since World War II. The Reagan’s now live in
solitude with the former President fighting his greatest battle, Alzheimer
disease. His daughter Maureen now champions the cause of Alzheimer’s in many
venues and public appearances

Presidents of the Continental
Congress
United Colonies of The United States

Current Order of Presidential
Succession

The Vice President
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs

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